Friction-gear



PATENT Futon.

JAMES HERRON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FRICTION-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,643, dated June 7, 18.81.

Application tiled January 7, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES HERRON, of Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and 'State of Maryland, have invented a newand useful Improvement in FrictionGear; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in friction-gearingintended more especially for use in dred gin g-machines, but applicable,wher ever power is applied under similar circumstances, for raising weights or other purposes.

In machines of this` class as heretofore constructed the friction arrangement consisted of adruin faced with wood at one end, against which a metallic plate was forced, thefrictional contact being suiiicient to hold the drum stationary upon the driving-shaft and permit the chain to be wound upon such drum by the mov tion of said shaft. Devices constructed in this manner have been found insufficient for these purposes, because as the friction was only at one end of the drum the power was not fully exerted and equalized.

My invention consists in an improvement upon the devices mentioned, whereby the drum is provided with the frictional bearing-surfaces at both ends, by means of which it is held securely upon the shaft; and, further, in vari ous details of construction, which will be now more fully described, in connection with the drawings, in which- Figure l is a top view, and Fig. 2 a central longitudinal section.

1n these drawings the entire device is represented as supported upon two standards, A A, having bearings l l, in which is journaled a main driving-shaft, B, of the machine. Upon this driving -shaft is secured a large gearwheel, G, by which it is revolved, though the manner of applying power to the shaft does not constitute a part of my invention, since many different devices might be employed besides the one mentioned.

D represents the winding-drum, of which drums one or more may be used upon the same shaft, operated by a single gear. The drum consists of a cylinder, 3, upon which the rope or chain is to be wound, mounted loosely upon (No model.)

the drivin g-shaft, and of two wheels or Han ges, 4, one at each end of the cylinder and secured rigidly thereto.` These flanges or wheels are either made of wood or of metal faced with wood. The drum is mounted loosely upon the shaft and ordinarily is free to revolve thereon in either direction and to have-a limited longitudinal motion on such shaft.

At one end of the driving-shaft, next to the point at which it is journaled in its bearin gs, is keyed a disk, E, of a circular form, of a diameter nearly equal to that of the wheel or flange 4. A metallic rim, 5,.is bolted to the outer face of the friction-wheel, forming a raised flange, and the disk E is just of suiiticient diameter to tit easily within such flange.

F is a movable disk of construction similar to the disk E, but placed on the outer end of the shaft, and such disk is provided with a hub, 6, having a slot or recess, 7. Instead of being keyed to the shaft, however, this disk F revolves easily thereon in either direction, eX- cept under the circumstances hereinafter mentioned. The outer end of the shaft is slotted, as shown at'S, and it is bored out centrally for a short distance, as shown at 9. In the slot 8 is a key, l0, held in position in such slot by bolts Vll l1, or by other suitable means; and in the hollow portion of the shaft is a pin, 12, in connection with which is a lever, 13, pivoted to one of the standards A. As before mentioned, under ordinary circumstances the disk F has a free rotation on the shaft; but when it is desired to raise the weight attached to the chain of the drum the pin l2 is forced by the lever 13 inward, driving the pin into the slot and forcing the disk F in contact with the wooden-faced friction-wheel 4. As the cy1inder is permitted to move lon gitudinally a short distance on such shaft, the other end of the cylinder is brought into contact with the disk E, which is rigidly fixed to the shaft, and thus there is a powerful frictional contact at both ends of the drum. By the rotation of the shaft through the described or any other system of gearing, the chain may be wound upon the drum and the weight drawn up, pressure being maintained on the lever to keep the frictional surfaces in contact. When the weight is drawn up pressure on the lever is removed and the Weight of the bucket will unwind the chain, the drum rotating freely upon the shaft.

As before mentioned, two drums may be operated from one shaft, if desired.

The advantages of this device will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a drum mounted loosely upon a driving-shaft, the fixed disk E and the movable disk F, said disks being provided With the frictional surfaces.

2. In combination, the drum, having the wooden-faced Wheels or anges 4, the fixed disk E, the movable disk F, and means for locking said movable disk and drivin g-shaft and maintaining it in frictional contactV with the drum.

3. In combination with the drum and the movable disk F, adapted for frictonal contact therewith, and provided with a slot, 7, the key 10, working in the slot 8 in the driving-shaft, and means for engaging such key with said slot 7.

4. In combination with the driving-shaft, having the slot S and central bore, 9, the key I0, working in such slot, and pin 12, and the lever 13.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two 3o subseribin g Witnesses.

JAMES HERRON.

Witnesses:

FRAivcIs I. MEEHAN, A. WILKINSON. 

